Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Piece on Cell Tower off of Knapp Ave
Here's a piece I just saw on the proposed cell tower up before the Edison Zoning Board on February 25th. Please take the time to review this proposal and join in the meeting on February 25th and make your voices heard.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Be careful tonight...opposing opinions bring out the best in some people!
...some people get offended by the truth!?!
Sunday, February 9, 2014
I get by with a little help from my friends - Lankey Style
Well, looks like Mayor Tom 'Form over Substance' Lankey's 'Fresh Start' tour is in full swing. Took a look at the agenda for Monday night's Council meeting and saw the following:
1. Award of Professional Service Contract for Financial Consulting Services (R.065-022014).
2, Resolution hires Anthony Russomanno as a salaried Township employee with the title 'Constituent Relations Administrator (Resolution R.077-022014).
3. Ordinance amends the Edison Township Code to increase the dollar amount for which the Business Administrator may contract for goods or services without the necessity of obtaining Municipal Council Approval (O.1855-2014).
So, let's see what's going on here. Lankey gives a financial services (not to exceed) $75,000 no-bid contract to member of the Council's Finance Committee, a Constituent Relations Administrator $65,000 salaried position to his campaign manager (yeah, I know, it's part of the settlement) and Rob 'March on Trenton' Karabinchak will lead the Council in reducing the $ amount the administration has to go to the Council for contract approvals.
Nothing fresh about this start!
Let's take these one by one;
1. The $75,000 no-bid Financial Consulting Services contract to Joe Petrucelli, a member of the Council's Finance Committee. It further reads that the Township has a need for financial consulting services to include but not limited to payroll system implementation and utilization, data migration and budget preparation assistance.
First, for purposes of full disclosure, Joe's my friend and he's been volunteering for years trying to help the taxpayers out by working with the Council and Administration over there on Municipal Boulevard. So, you have to give him credit for trying but it's hard to help people who only want your help - only if you agree with them. Don't know why he tortures himself.
Having said that though - you really have to ask the question why Lankey feels this is necessary. We have (1) a mayor who is a top notch finance guy, (2) a mayor who was the Chair of the Council's Finance Committee, (3) a Business Administrator, (4) a Chief Financial Officer and, (5) an auditor. Not enough talent or expertise there?
2. The $65,000 Constituent Relations Administrator salaried position to Anthony Russomanno, his campaign manager. I recognize that Rob 'March on Trenton' Karabinchak thinks this position is important and overlooked by many administrations but who believes or takes seriously what he says?
What the heck is a Constituent Relations Administrator and what was Lankey thinking?!? This guy is so entrenched in Dem Party campaign mode - what's he going to contribute to all the residents of Edison - another disingenuous Dem Party campaign flyer? What will he do? Does he go around town meeting with just the registered Democrats and potential Democrats or all residents?
But hey, got an idea for his first assignment. He can take his Dem Party Campaign mailing list and head over there to Knapp Ave. and try and help those people who are dealing with the Cell Tower - who knows, maybe some of them are Democrats?!?
3. Raising the limit for contracts that have to go to the Council for approval. You remember what this was all about. Lankey and the Council reduced the amount so Ricigliano had to get their approval for spending money. Of course, this also came back to bite them when they had to approve Russomanno's landscaping fees over there at the Library Board. Now they all trust each other - so there's no need for that anymore!
So, there you go. Lankey Law to go with his 'Fresh Start' tour.
La Ley de Lankey:
1. Award of Professional Service Contract for Financial Consulting Services (R.065-022014).
2, Resolution hires Anthony Russomanno as a salaried Township employee with the title 'Constituent Relations Administrator (Resolution R.077-022014).
3. Ordinance amends the Edison Township Code to increase the dollar amount for which the Business Administrator may contract for goods or services without the necessity of obtaining Municipal Council Approval (O.1855-2014).
So, let's see what's going on here. Lankey gives a financial services (not to exceed) $75,000 no-bid contract to member of the Council's Finance Committee, a Constituent Relations Administrator $65,000 salaried position to his campaign manager (yeah, I know, it's part of the settlement) and Rob 'March on Trenton' Karabinchak will lead the Council in reducing the $ amount the administration has to go to the Council for contract approvals.
Nothing fresh about this start!
Let's take these one by one;
1. The $75,000 no-bid Financial Consulting Services contract to Joe Petrucelli, a member of the Council's Finance Committee. It further reads that the Township has a need for financial consulting services to include but not limited to payroll system implementation and utilization, data migration and budget preparation assistance.
First, for purposes of full disclosure, Joe's my friend and he's been volunteering for years trying to help the taxpayers out by working with the Council and Administration over there on Municipal Boulevard. So, you have to give him credit for trying but it's hard to help people who only want your help - only if you agree with them. Don't know why he tortures himself.
Having said that though - you really have to ask the question why Lankey feels this is necessary. We have (1) a mayor who is a top notch finance guy, (2) a mayor who was the Chair of the Council's Finance Committee, (3) a Business Administrator, (4) a Chief Financial Officer and, (5) an auditor. Not enough talent or expertise there?
2. The $65,000 Constituent Relations Administrator salaried position to Anthony Russomanno, his campaign manager. I recognize that Rob 'March on Trenton' Karabinchak thinks this position is important and overlooked by many administrations but who believes or takes seriously what he says?
What the heck is a Constituent Relations Administrator and what was Lankey thinking?!? This guy is so entrenched in Dem Party campaign mode - what's he going to contribute to all the residents of Edison - another disingenuous Dem Party campaign flyer? What will he do? Does he go around town meeting with just the registered Democrats and potential Democrats or all residents?
But hey, got an idea for his first assignment. He can take his Dem Party Campaign mailing list and head over there to Knapp Ave. and try and help those people who are dealing with the Cell Tower - who knows, maybe some of them are Democrats?!?
3. Raising the limit for contracts that have to go to the Council for approval. You remember what this was all about. Lankey and the Council reduced the amount so Ricigliano had to get their approval for spending money. Of course, this also came back to bite them when they had to approve Russomanno's landscaping fees over there at the Library Board. Now they all trust each other - so there's no need for that anymore!
So, there you go. Lankey Law to go with his 'Fresh Start' tour.
The Lankey Team
Perilstein, Russomanno, Karabinchak and Petrucelli
Agenda excerpts:
Anyhoo, here's a thought to keep his 'Fresh Start' team together during this Fresh Start' tour. Lankey should hook up Skype in town hall or better yet, convert over to Mac so everyone can do some FaceTime!
Saturday, February 8, 2014
StopCellTower Flyer - Knapp Avenue
Below is the flyer put out by the people over on Knapp Avenue regarding the proposed cell tower in their neighborhood. Please take the time to read it, check out the facts yourself and join in at the February 25th Zoning Board Meeting to make your opinions heard.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Proposed Cell Tower on the South-Side of Town?!?
Just saw that there's a proposed cell tower up before the zoning board on February 25th at 7:00PM. Now, I recognize that this is the south-side of town but this is something that both affects and effects all the residents of Edison. It's worth some time to pay attention to this before the residents of Downtown Edison get left out of the decision-making process again.
It's being opposed by a property owner on Knapp Ave. - close to where the tower will be and not far from where I live. You can see his concerns and other information he supplies on his web site StopCellTower.org here. Take a look at the site, check it out yourself and then Go to the meeting and voice your opinion.
I'd say call the mayor's office too but I'm not sure he'd answer the phone - but, what the heck, give it a shot!
Who doesn't want a Cell Tower in their neighborhood?!?
It's being opposed by a property owner on Knapp Ave. - close to where the tower will be and not far from where I live. You can see his concerns and other information he supplies on his web site StopCellTower.org here. Take a look at the site, check it out yourself and then Go to the meeting and voice your opinion.
I'd say call the mayor's office too but I'm not sure he'd answer the phone - but, what the heck, give it a shot!
Who doesn't want a Cell Tower in their neighborhood?!?
A Mayor for all the Dems in Downtown Edison!?!
Seriously!?! What's a campaign picture of Mayor Tom 'Form over Substance' Lankey with Senator Booker & Middlesex County Dem Party Chair McCabe doing on the town's web site?!?
The election is over and time to at least pretend to be mayor of all the people of Edison - not just the Dem Party folks.
In the words of Emil 'Do the Right Thing' Ferlicchi - do the right thing and take down the picture.
Speaking of my friends over there on Mythomania Lane, I'm reminded of something Former BoE President David Dickinson said when he narrowly won reelection - 'Win by a Little, Lose by a Lot.' True! I'm a big believer in the fact that those who show up to vote - decide!
So, in a town of 100k + people, with some 55k + registered voters, where the Dems outnumber the Reps by 2-3 to 1, Lankey gets elected mayor with only 8,021 votes! Granted, he got 39% of the vote for mayor but that was only some 21,000 votes. Those who showed up decided but Not exactly a mandate in this one-party Dem town.
Anyhoo, gotta like that Local Dem Party - where else but in Edison can you become mayor of a town with the second largest ratables (last I looked and before Councilman Karabinchak's tax appeals) in the state with only 8k votes?!?
The election is over and time to at least pretend to be mayor of all the people of Edison - not just the Dem Party folks.
In the words of Emil 'Do the Right Thing' Ferlicchi - do the right thing and take down the picture.
Speaking of my friends over there on Mythomania Lane, I'm reminded of something Former BoE President David Dickinson said when he narrowly won reelection - 'Win by a Little, Lose by a Lot.' True! I'm a big believer in the fact that those who show up to vote - decide!
So, in a town of 100k + people, with some 55k + registered voters, where the Dems outnumber the Reps by 2-3 to 1, Lankey gets elected mayor with only 8,021 votes! Granted, he got 39% of the vote for mayor but that was only some 21,000 votes. Those who showed up decided but Not exactly a mandate in this one-party Dem town.
Anyhoo, gotta like that Local Dem Party - where else but in Edison can you become mayor of a town with the second largest ratables (last I looked and before Councilman Karabinchak's tax appeals) in the state with only 8k votes?!?
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Edison State of the Township address - Feb. 20th!
Well, one of my FaceBook friends posted a political link from Anthony Russomanno, aka..Campaign Manager to the EDO and it showed up on my page. Now, as a general rule, I don't engage in local political rhetoric, fairytales and banter on FaceBook and always ask my political friends Not to do it to me. Un-friend me first, if you must! Guess this one slipped by but please don't do that to me again.
So, let me share what it was all about. It was a NJ.Com article about Edison Mayor Tom 'Form over Substance' Lankey's State of the Township Address on February 20th at 7:00PM. If you want to mingle with the troops at a pre-address cocktail reception from 5:30-7:00PM - it'll cost you $65.00. Reservations required through the Chamber, of course.
Anyhoo, if you have the time, you should go to hear the speech. Personally, I'll pass - he says a lot of things but the words don't follow the actions.
But then again, isn't that the Edison EDO way - making Edison safe for hypocrisy?!? There's a fine line between politics and people here in Downtown Edison - and Lankey is already out of balance.
So, let me share what it was all about. It was a NJ.Com article about Edison Mayor Tom 'Form over Substance' Lankey's State of the Township Address on February 20th at 7:00PM. If you want to mingle with the troops at a pre-address cocktail reception from 5:30-7:00PM - it'll cost you $65.00. Reservations required through the Chamber, of course.
Anyhoo, if you have the time, you should go to hear the speech. Personally, I'll pass - he says a lot of things but the words don't follow the actions.
But then again, isn't that the Edison EDO way - making Edison safe for hypocrisy?!? There's a fine line between politics and people here in Downtown Edison - and Lankey is already out of balance.
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